Nancy Loescher, left, Kayla Keuter, center, and Holly Donaldson are developing a group of duplexes called Courtside Homes by their Nahola Fitness Center just east of Central and I-235. Travis HeyingThe Wichita Eagle

Nancy Loescher, left, Kayla Keuter, center, and Holly Donaldson are developing a group of duplexes called Courtside Homes by their Nahola Fitness Center just east of Central and I-235. Travis HeyingThe Wichita Eagle

Courtside Homes to open for fun and fitness

When the partners behind Nahola Fitness Center opened their gym and pickleball court two and a half years ago, they knew they eventually wanted to build residences for people 55 and older there as well.

Now, they’re doing it.

“We just want a community for people to socialize and be active,” partner Kayla Keuter says.

Nahola is at 5228 W. Central, which is a few blocks east of I-235.

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Courtside Homes, which will have 10 duplexes for a total of 20 residences, is behind the fitness center at 5224 W. Elm Circle.

Keuter is a physician assistant who works in trauma.

“This is why this is so important to me,” she says of combining fitness with places to live.

Keuter says she’s seen the difference between older people who exercise and those who don’t.

“Falling is very prevalent in middle age to older adults,” she says.

With those who exercise, Keuter says, “They bounce right back. … It is amazing, actually.”

Residents will get memberships to the fitness center and pickleball courts with their leases.

The development’s 775-square-foot one-bedroom units will rent for $795 a month, and its 910-square-foot two-bedroom units will rent for $935 a month.

“They’re more like patio homes,” Keuter says. They’re for people who “don’t want to take care of the yard, but they want to be social and active.”

The first units will be ready Nov. 1.

“We hope to have them all done … before the end of the year,” Keuter says. “We’re just starting on the leasing.”

The entire property is two and a half acres. There’s not room for more duplexes, but Keuter says she and her partners are in the process of adding two pickleball courts to their existing one. There is room for more after that, too.

“We are building in anticipation of building again,” Keuter says.

“Pickleball has really taken off in the last couple of years. … We really can’t grow with our one court.”

Previously, she says, it was more of a sport for older adults.

She says more people of other ages are playing now, too, including entire families.

“It’s just a really good sport for all skill levels. That’s what’s so great about it.”